He Made the Stars Also

Psalm 19 is about the revelation of God to man in three progressive ways:

1) The Heavens (vs.1-6) – Partial (His Power) 

2) The Holy Scripture (vs.7-10) – Perfect (His Person)

3) The Heart (vs.11-14) - Personal  

The Bible says that Christ made all things and that He is the “true Light that lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (Jn. 1:9). Every man knows that God is real through the light of creation and conscience (Rom. 1:19-20). God will send more light to those who respond to that light but those that reject His light plunge themselves into even further darkness (Rom. 1:21). It is only a FOOL that says in His heart, “there is no God” (Ps. 14:1; 53:1). When the lost of all the ages stand before God at the great white throne judgment they will all be “without excuse.” The astronaut John Glenn, in referring to his view from the space shuttle Discovery said, “To look out the window… as I did that first day… to look at this kind of creation and not believe in God is to me impossible.” I have never been in space but I recall an amazing view of the stars from a tree stand in South Georgia. We are living in day in which everyone is constantly looking down at their phone. Man’s devices are nothing compared to what God has made and the book He wrote! When we consoder the stars we should stand in awe of God and yet His word simply says, “He made the stars also” (Gen. 1:16)!

Let's consider just one aspect of God’s mighty creation; the stars. The stars in the firmament of heaven have been a constant witness to all people about God. They declare His power, wisdom, and glory. One of the stated reasons that God made the stars was “for signs” (Gen. 1:14). For example, God used them to illustrate the steadfastness of His covenant (Ps. 89:34-37). There were signs in the heavens that illustrated divine truth (oldest book: Job 9:8-10; 38:30-33). The 12 signs of the ancient zodiac (all ancient civilizations drew the same basic pictures) illustrated prophecy. Astrology is a satanic corruption (spiritual wickedness in high places) that God condemns (Isa. 47:13; idolatry, 2 kings 23:5). With the perfect revelation of the Bible, there is no need for signs in the stars. 

The sun is mentioned in particular in Psalm 19. It is the only star in our solar system. It is a picture of the Godhead (3 distinct rays yet 1 sun). Think of the size and strength of the sun. It is so big that 1.3 million earths could fit inside it! It is 10,000 degrees on its surface and 27 million degrees at its core (our God is a consuming fire). The luminosity of the sun is as bright as 4 trillion trillion 100 watt light bulbs! Think of the glory of Christ (will light up New Jerusalem)! John saw Him glorified and said, “His countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength” (Rev. 1:16).

Notice the attributes of God that are illustrated by the sun:

• Omnipotence – strong man 

• Omnipresence – goings forth 

• Omniscience – nothing hid 

Notice that the sun is called a “bridegroom” and that in the heavens there is a tabernacle set for the sun. The sun is a picture of Christ who is the fulness of the Godhead bodily. He is called, “the Sun of righteousness” (Mal. 4:2), the “dayspring” (Lk. 1:78), the true Light, the light of the world, the “day star” (2 Pet. 1:19), and the “bright and morning star” (Rev. 22:16). The sun appeared on the fourth day of creation and the word “life” is used for the first time on the fifth day (2 Pet. 3:8, Christ came into the world after 4,000 years of human history). The sun is the only star in universe that supports life. The sun dies blood red in the west every evening but is resurrected every morning and comes again from the east. The earth rotates AGAINST the sun. 

Consider some basic things about the stars God made:

I. Their Number (Ps. 147:4-5)

The Bible says that man cannot number the stars (Gen. 15:5; Jer. 33:22). Before the invention of telescopes men used to mock such statements. At the time of Jeremiah the latest science claimed there were 3,000 total stars. Astronomers now estimate there are over 300 billion stars in our galaxy. There are galaxies with more stars than ours and it is estimated that there are more than 170 billion galaxies in the observable universe (bubble of space 47 billion light years in all directions; 5.88 trillion miles is one light year). Only an infinite mind can count the stars. God not only knows the number, He has given them all names (Isa. 40:12-26). 

II. Their Diversity (1 Cor. 15:41)

All stars differ in color, brightness, and size. Color indicates the surface temperature (coolest to hottest: red, orange, yellow, white, and blue). The brightness of a star is determined by its temperature and size. The Bible says that the angels (called stars and associated with stars) are also innumerable (Heb. 12:22). I am sure they are all different and all have names. There are presently 7 billion people on the planet and each one is different (Ps. 139:14-16).  

III. Their Size (Ps. 19:5-6)

The sun is the only star in our solar system. It is 93 million miles away (light travels at 186,000 miles per second, it takes 8 minutes for the light of the sun to reach the earth). The circumference of the sun is 2,713,406 miles (earth is about 25,000 miles). If earth was the size of a golf ball, the sun would be 15 feet in diameter (1.3 million earths in sun, enough to fill a school bus). But the sun is small in comparison to other stars astronomers have discovered:

• Betelguese – 427 light years away (light year is 5.88 trillion miles); if earth was the size of a golf ball this star would be the size of 6 empire state buildings stacked on top of each other (7,500 feet) in comparison (262 trillion earths inside, fill super dome 3,000 times). A million seconds ago is 12 days. A billion seconds ago it was 1984. A trillion seconds ago was about 31,688 years ago. 

• Mu Cephei (the Garnet Star) – about 2,000 light years away; if earth a golf ball, the diameter of this star would be as wide as 2 golden gate bridges (17,960 feet) in comparison; 2.7 quadrillion earths inside (it would take 3.8 million years to count to one quadrillion). A quadrillion seconds ago was 30,800,000 years ago. 

• Canis Majoris – 4,892 light years away; The circumference is 1,975,000,000 km (plane traveling 900 km an hour would take 1100 years to circle); if earth the size of a golf ball this star would be as big as Mt. Everest in comparison (6 miles above sea level); 7 quadrillion earths could fit inside (enough to fill state of Texas 22 inches deep). 

The whirlpool galaxy is 31 million light years away. It is a galaxy that contains 300 billion stars. NASA captured the following image of the black hole in the center of this galaxy. 

Laminin is basically a protein molecule that holds our body together (Col. 1:17). 

Practical applications:

That God made the stars is just one of many demonstrations of His infinite power (Gen. 1:16b)! How big is God (1 Kings 8:27)? Sin messes up our view of God. It shrinks Him down and puffs us up. It does us good to think about how great our God is (Job 42:5-6). 

How amazing that such a mighty God would take thought of us (Ps. 8:1-4; 33:6, 8, 13-14; 147:3-5)!

We will never face a problem too big for God (“is anything too hard for the Lord”)! Why worry? 

The One who created and upholds all things became a man and died on a cross for sinners (Phil. 2:5-8)!